The Icons of Whisky Scotland 2026 have been announced. The regional winners of the global competition were announced at the Signet Library in Edinburgh on 4 December 2025, in a ceremony which also revealed taste category winners in the World Whiskies Awards Scotland 2026 and two new entrants into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame.
Guests were welcomed by Whisky Magazine founder Damian Riley-Smith and editor Bradley Weir. The duo reflected on how Scotland’s combined whisky legacy and craftsmanship continue to grow and define the worldwide whisky landscape.
The Icons of Whisky Scotland celebrates the people, places, and producers in every area of the Scotch whisky industry — from coopers, distillery managers, and production teams, to sales teams and communicators, to visitor experiences.
Icons this year included Glanfarclas’ Calum Fraser as Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year, Kirsty Wright of Whyte & Mackay as Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year, and Hugh McMurray of Glasgow Distillery Company as Cooper of the Year.
Regional winners progress to the global round of the Icons of Whisky 2026. Global winners will be announced in March 2026.
Icons of Whisky Scotland 2026 — Winners and Highly Commended
Communication Awards
Advertising Agency of the Year
Winner
Northport
Digital Agency of the Year
Winner
Northport
Marketing Team of the Year
Winner
The Team, The Johnnie Walker Experience
PR Agency of the Year
Winner
SPEY
People Awards
Brand Ambassador, Scotch Whisky of the Year — Sponsored by McLaren Presentation
Winner
Gary Mills, Loch Lomond Group
Highly Commended
Iain Allen, Glen Moray Distillery
Sales Team of the Year
Winner
The Team, Brave New Spirits
Production Team of the Year
Winner
The Team, Tamnavulin Distillery
Highly Commended
The Team, Glenfarclas Distillery
Master Distiller / Master Blender of the Year — In association with The Distillers One of One Charity Auction
Winner
Callum Fraser, Glenfarclas Distillery
Highly Commended
Stephen Woodcock, Glen Moray Distillery
Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year — Sponsored by Larkfire
Winner
Kirsty Wright, Whyte & Mackay
Highly Commended
Leigh Aitken, The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery
Visitor Attraction of the Year — Sponsored by Rothes Glen
Winner
Isle of Raasay Distillery
Highly Commended
Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery
Visitor Attraction Team of the Year
Winner
The Team, Glen Moray Visitor Centre
Highly Commended
The Team, The Johnnie Walker Experience
Cooper Awards
Cooper of the Year
Winner
Hugh McMurray, Glasgow Distillery Company
Producer Awards
Campaign Innovator of the Year — Sponsored by IPL Packaging
Winner
Lagg Distillery
Craft Distiller / Blender of the Year
Winner
Alasdair Day, Isle of Raasay Distillery
Distiller of the Year — Sponsored by Glencairn Crystal
Winner
The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery
Highly Commended
Glasgow Distillery
Distillery Manager of the Year
Winner
Polly Logan, Tormore Distillery
Independent Bottler of the Year — Sponsored by Smurfit Westrock
Winner
Brave New Spirits
Highly Commended
One Cask at a Time
Sustainable Distillery of the Year — Sponsored by IPL Packaging
Winner
Arbikie Distilling
Highly Commended
Invergordon Distillery
